Wind farms banned as MoD listening post demands hush to detect nuclear blasts

Published on Tuesday 9 February 2010 22:01

THE Ministry of Defence has put a blanket ban on turbines being built within 31 miles of a nuclear test monitoring station, The Scotsman has learned.

• The landscape around Hawick looks set to remain free of new wind farms under a limit set by the Eskdalemuir seismological recording station

The decision by the MoD could scupper plans for major wind farms in the Borders, as well as making it impossible for individuals to put turbines up at their homes and farms.

The Eskdalemuir seismological recording station, between Moffat and Hawick in the Borders, is used to monitor underground nuclear testing across the world.

It is the only facility of its kind in the UK, and it fulfils the government's obligation to monitor countries' compliance with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The MoD says research suggests that if too many wind turbines are built in the vicinity, the vibrations can interfere with the recording equipment.

It says the safe maximum has been reached, and it will now object to any applications to build wind farms within a 31-mile radius of the station. Any turbines outside this area do not affect the station's work.

It is the latest clash between the MoD and wind power industry. The MoD already commonly objects to turbines on the grounds they can interfere with radar.

There are plans for wind farms totalling about 100 turbines in the area covered by the ban. Some of those plans are accommodated within the MoD's limit on developments and will therefore be allowed to go ahead, but other proposals will be met with an objection. Existing proposals will be treated on a first come, first served basis.

An objection from the MoD on these grounds will lead to an automatic refusal of planning permission, according to experts.

An application for a turbine at a farmhouse in Hawick, about 15 miles from the recording station, is among those to which the MoD has already objected, and it has since been withdrawn.

An employee of a firm selling wind turbines for small-scale use in the Borders, such as for farms or homes, said there was no point even putting in planning applications in that area.

The man, who did not want to be named, has had about 15 inquiries from people interested in installing turbines near the station. "There's no point going into planning because they won't get permission," he said.

"It's the end of the line. In that area, I might as well not bother going to see people about wind turbines because I would know I'm going to charge people for a site survey which is going to be a complete waste of money for them."

He said some of his customers had been "blazing" about the MoD's objection.

A spokeswoman for the MoD confirmed it would "register concern" over any new wind farm applications for that area. She said efforts were being made to find a solution to the problem.

"We have been looking at whether a damping system can be integrated into the wind turbines, which will dampen the noise.

"It's taking time and it's not something that can happen overnight and we have to ensure that the Eskdalemuir station is not compromised."

Mark Roley, who campaigns against wind farms in the Borders, was happy with the situation.

"Obviously, we are not keen on having wind turbines in scenic areas so if this was an impediment to that then we would welcome it," he said.

The Scottish Government has ambitious targets for 50 per cent of Scotland's electricity to be provided by renewables by 2020.

A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is working to resolve this issue and is continuing discussions with the MoD, the British Wind Energy Association and the Department of Energy and Climate Change."